It's Official--Levi will be wrestling for Northwestern

The official press release - Levi signing with Northwestern near Chicago.

Three-time Utah State Champion Joins NU Matmen

Levi Mele rounds out Northwestern's class of 2013
July 20, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Tim Cysewski has announced that Levi Mele (Vernal, Utah/Uintah), a three-time state champion and five-time All-American, will attend NU as the sixth and final member of Cysewski's incoming 2009 recruiting class. Mele is set to compete for the Wildcats in the 125-pound weight division.

"Levi will be a great addition to our lower weights," Cysewski said. "He'll have a chance to work closely with a very experienced group of wrestlers in Brandon Precin, Eric Metzler and Bobby Joyce. He comes to us with great credentials, maturity and from a good wrestling lineage and we look forward to showcasing his talents this winter."

Mele was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the 2006 Utah state tournament his senior season following his third state title. He completed his career with a record of 157-26 and more than 100 career pins.

Mele's accomplishments did not end with his state titles, however, as he advanced all the way to the finals of the 2006 NHSCA national championships at 125 pounds, recording two pins and two major decisions along the way.

Following his graduation from high school in 2006, Mele completed a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Northwestern's complete 2009 freshman class is as follows: Kevin Bialka (Lockport, Ill./Lockport/157 lbs.), David Helmer (McLean, Va./Langley/149/157 lbs.), Levi Mele (Vernal, Utah/Uintah/125 lbs.), Jeff Olsen (Marietta, Ga./Walton/197 lbs.), Terrance Scotton (Willingboro, N.J./Burlington/125 pounds) and Marcus Shrewsbury (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point/184 pounds).

Levi Mele
Vernal, Utah/Uintah
5'2 • 125 pounds

High School: Five-time All-American and three-time Utah state champion at Uintah High School ... NHSCA Senior National finalist ... Three-time Utah Region 10 champion ... Named Outstanding Wrestler in the state of Utah in his senior season ... Twice an all-star dual champion ... Team placed second in the state three times during his four years and was ranked in the top 40 nationally during junior season ... Member of USA Wrestling's Team Utah (2004) and Team Wyoming (2005) ... Three-time NHSCA Academic All-American ... Also a letterwinner in football and cross country ... National Honor Society member and Utah state president of Future Business Leaders of America.

Personal: Born Levi Louis Mele ... Son of Greg and Kim Mele ... Grandfather started Uintah High's wrestling program and played football for the University of Utah ... Father was a state champion wrestler in Utah and brother (Tyson) was a state champion in Wyoming ... Attended same high school as two-time NCAA finalist at Minnesota Ryan Lewis and NCAA All-American Phil Keddy of Iowa ... Chose Northwestern over Iowa State, Boise State, Lehigh and Stanford ... Served two-year Mormon mission from November 2006-December 2008 ... Anticipated major is business or political science.